Board of Game Arctic and Western Regional Meeting Scheduled January 5-9, 2017, in Bethel
— ADF&G Press Release

Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526


Press Release: December 29, 2016

Contact: Kristy Tibbles, Executive Director, Board of Game, Juneau, (907) 465-4110

Board of Game Arctic and Western Regional Meeting Scheduled January 5-9, 2017, in Bethel

(Bethel) — The Alaska Board of Game will meet January 5–9, 2017, in Bethel at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center located at 420 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway. The board will hold a one-day work session January 5, followed by a four-day regulatory meeting to address changes primarily to hunting and trapping regulations for the Arctic/Western Region (Game Management Units 18, 22, 23, and 26A).

Proposals have been submitted by the Department of Fish and Game, local fish and game advisory committees, and the general public seeking adjustments to hunting and trapping regulations for areas including Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, and Barrow. Most of the proposals to be addressed by the board concern hunting and trapping season dates and bag limits. The board will also address four non-regional proposals, including two concerning intensive management for Kenai moose and the Mulchatna caribou herd.

The regional meeting convenes Friday, January 6, at 8:30 a.m., beginning with presentations by the department on various topics, including a report on the Western Arctic and Teshekpuk caribou herds. The board invites oral public testimony for the regulatory meeting only, following the presentations. Anyone wishing to testify before the board must sign up at the meeting location before 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7. Public testimony will continue until all who have signed up have had the opportunity to be heard. Deliberations on proposals will begin following public testimony and will continue through the remainder of the meeting.

Topics scheduled for the January 5 work session include agency reports and updates, including hunting and trapping license fee increases; Federal Subsistence Board issues; setting the 2017/2018 meeting schedule; and a review of the Agenda Change Request Policy. Oral testimony will not be heard during the work session.

All portions of the meeting are open to the public and a live audio stream is planned on the Board of Game website at www.boardofgame.adfg.alaska.gov. Other meeting materials, including proposals, agenda, roadmap order of proposals, list of staff reports, and comments on proposals, can be viewed online at: www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=gameboard.meetinginfo.

Documents submitted to the board during the meeting will be posted online throughout the meeting. Written public comments from individuals or groups may be submitted by hand at any time during the meeting; written comments must not exceed 10 single-sided pages, and 20 copies must be provided. Individuals who cannot attend the meeting may submit comments via fax to (907) 465-6094..